“FromSeptember2011toMarchofthisyear,thereweremorethan87,000convictionsfordistracteddriving,anddespiteourbestefforts,distracteddrivingremainsarealdanger,withconvictionsincreasingyearoveryear,”saidBrianMason,MinisterofTransportation.“Given these numbers,wearefollowingthroughonAlbertans’wishesforstrongerpenaltiesfordistracteddriving.”

“Insteadofjustfinancialconsequences,nowpeople’slicensesareontheline,”saidAllemekinders.“I’mhopingpeoplenowlookatitand take it moreseriouslyandchoosetomaketherightdecisioninsteadofcontinuingtousetheirmobiledeviceswhiledriving.

“Ithinkwecanallattesttothefactthatit’ssomethingweseehappeningallthetime–it’soutthereandit’shappeningallthetimeand we are hopingthatwiththisnewconsequencethatpeoplewillstarttofollowthelawmorewhenitcomestodistracteddriving.”

AnydriverchargedwithdistracteddrivingbeforeJanuary1,2016,willnotbeassigneddemeritpoints,evenifthe$287fineispaidinthe new year.